SA Vaal Sailing April 1977
History as to why this journey, with ongoing conflict in Southern Africa during 1977 originally looking to travel to Zimbabwe our plans were terminated in their tracks by travel agent, forcing a rethink on where we were going to go.
Within our own borders would be safer we were advised, so we caught the Green train from Johannesburg (Park Station) to Durban (original station building), meandered around Durban for a day before going onboard the SA Vaal, rumour was rife the lines were coming to an end.
SA Vaal
The S.A. Vaal (30,212 grt, 760 ft. long) was originally the Transvaal Castle, sailing on her maiden voyage from Southampton to South Africa for Union-Castle Line in January 1962.
Four years later she was taken over by South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine) though remaining on the same route and still managed by Union-Castle.
In February 1966 registry was transferred to Cape Town. She made her last voyage for Union-Castle-Safmarine on 2nd September 1977 and was withdrawn from service on her return and sold to Festivale Maritime Inc. a subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Lines of Miami.
Rebuilt at Kawasaki with extra decks and renamed Festivale she joined the Mardi Gras (ex Empress of Canada) on their 'Fun Ship Cruises'.
In 1978 she cruised in the Caribbean based in San Juan, Puerto Rica and in 1982 was based in in Miami operating 7 day cruises to Nassau - San Juan - St Thomas.
She was acquired by Premier Cruises of Port Canaveral in 1996 and renamed Island Breeze operating for her owners in the Caribbean during the northern winter and on charter to Thomson Holidays in the Mediterranean during the summer.
At the beginning of 2000 she was renamed Big Red Boat III as part of Premier's corporate identity. However, in September 2000 Premier Cruises ceased trading and the ship was seized by creditors for non payment of debts. SA Vaal - Source and more photographs and stories
Boarded mid-afternoon the ship sailed through the night directly to Port Elizabeth where able to go on shore exploring for most of the day. Late afternoon set sail for Cape Town arriving early Sunday morning with the sunlight creeping up the mountain. Sorry the photographs have discoloured over time, hence a collage to show time onboard.
Photography of history I still have, added collection of the wonderful time spent enjoying life utilizing cruise ship as part of the travel package.
Menu for meals as glorious as the art paintings depicted at each serving, most incredible people who took full order for your whole meal, along with every other person around the table, everything memorized to perfection!
Arriving in Cape Town we hired a Mini Cooper spending a week exploring before catching a flight back to Johannesburg, something we had never done previously nor ever again. With railways now obsolete running on the tracks for passenger overnight journeys, ships taken off rumours were a reality, leaving plane travel still available within our boundaries, or go by car.
Thanks for joining me in appreciating our history, as always stay safe, wishing you a wonderful weekend.
And so we arrived at 
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera.
Thought for Today: "Life is like a boat you move on when you paddle and stay in the same place if not." - African Proverb